Weekly FIVE! September 4, 2018

Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - 14:22 By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing rosters for #Budapest2018 and #Trnava2018 and Richard Perry's recent accident.

1. Junior World Championship Freestyle Rosters Released
Daton FIX (USA) and Gable STEVESON (USA), the duo of American returning champions lead a freestyle #Trnava2018 field that boasts 245 wrestlers from 40 different nations.

Fix, the 55kg champion from a year ago enters the Junior World Championships at 57kg, while Steveson, the 120kg gold-medal winner enters at 125kg.

Steveson will be looking for his fourth age-level world title. Since stepping on the international scene in 2015, Steveson has yet to drop a match on his way to claiming two Cadet World titles, and a Junior World gold medal.

Fix, the three-time world medalist will be trying to win back-to-back Junior World titles while competing in his fifth age-level World Championship. Since taking tenth place at the 2014 Cadet World Championships, Fix has rallied to win two bronzes, and most recently, a gold medal.

Freestyle action begins on Friday, September 21 and will close the Junior World Championships.

Click HERE to see freestyle entries

Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (RUS), 2017 world runner-up. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

2. Russia to Finalize #Budapest2018 Roster at This Weekends Poland Open
Warsaw, Poland will host the Poland Open on September 7-9, and Russia's two final freestyle World Team spots will be up for grabs. The two remaining weight classes that have not been cemented are 61kg and 65kg.

Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) (61kg) and Ilyas BEKBULATOV (RUS) (65kg) were relieved from participating at Russian Nationals and will compete alongside Russian National champions Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) (61kg) and Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) (65kg) at the Poland Open.

The highest placer in these two weight classes at the Ziolkowski (Poland Open) will represent Russia at the 2018 World Championships.

Click HERE for Poland Open homepage.

3. Richard Perry Suffers Horrific Accident, Go-Fund Me Created
Richard Perry, the No. 3 ranked 86kg American freestyle wrestler suffered a horrific injury during a recent national training camp. It has been reported that Perry’s eye was impaled, causing brain injury.

Per the Go-Fund Me that was created, “The Perry family will need help with the expenses from traveling, time off from work that both Rich and Gina will have to take, as well as day to day life expenses.”

Please click HERE if you would like to contribute to the Perry Family Go-Fund Me page.

Peter BACSI (HUN), 2014 world champion. Photo by Martin Gabor.

4. #Budapest2018 Host Nation, Hungary Announces World Championship Roster
Seven Hungarian Greco-Roman wrestlers from last year’s squad will again represent Hungary at the World Championships. The only difference, this year it’ll be on Hungarian soil.

Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), the 2017 world runner-up and Paris bronze medalists Balazs KISS (HUN) and Balint KORPASI (HUN) are the three returning medalists that will represent Hungary at the World Championships.

The three remaining wrestlers that made the Hungarian squad are 2014 world champion Peter BACSI (HUN), and first-time representatives Jozsef ANDRASI (HUN) and Krisztian VANCZA (HUN).

Another interesting note regarding the Hungarian World Team, Tamas and Viktor Lorincz have competed on Hungary's Greco-Roman team at twenty World Championships and Olympic Games.

Hungry’s GR #Budapest2018 Squad
55kg - Jozsef ANDRASI
60kg - Erik TORBA
63kg - Krisztian VANCZA
67kg - Mate KRASZNAI
72kg - Balint KORPASI
77kg - Tamas LORINCZ
82kg - Peter BACSI
87kg - Viktor LORINCZ
97kg - Balazs KISS
130kg - Balint LAM

Yui SUSAKI (JPN), 2017 world champion. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

5. #Trnava2018 Women's Wrestling, Greco-Roman Lineups Submitted
The final women's wrestling and Greco-Roman entries for the #Trnava2018 World Championships have been submitted and the most surprising entry comes from reigning senior-level world champion, Yui SUSAKI (JPN).

Susaki, Japan's 19-year-old superstar won three straight Cadet World Championships before heading to Paris last year to claim her first senior-level World Championship, defeating current world No.1 Alina VUC (ROU), 14-4.

The 2018 Junior World Championships will be Susaki's first junior-level competition ever.

Another surprising entry comes from France's U23 world champion and 2017 world bronze medalist, Koumba LARROQUE. Larroque enters her first junior-level competition since winning the 2016 Junior World Championship gold medal.

Reigning champions Sae NANJO (JPN) and Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) also make their return to the Junior World Championships with hopes of winning back-to-back gold medals.

In Greco-Roman, three reigning champions in Kamal BEY (USA), Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) are registered to defend their titles from last years Tampere Junior World Championships.

Aleksander KOMAROV (RUS), the three-time age-level world champion and most dominant age-level wrestler in the world was expected to compete for Russia at 82kg but is not registered for the Junior World Championships. Instead, Russia has entered Shamil OZHAEV (RUS) at GR 82kg.

Click HERE to see women's wrestling entries.

Click HERE to see Greco-Roman wrestling entries.

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media

1. Big Move Monday! Don't Miss the #grappling #world #championships in #astana #kazakhstanfrom the 6th of september.

2. Serbia’s ?? first-ever European medalist, Stevan MICIC (SRB) / @stevanandrijamicic has registered for #Budapest2018 at FS 57kg.

3. Tamas and Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) will represent Hungary ?? at the #Budapest2018 World Championships. Combined, the brothers have competed on Hungary's Greco-Roman team at TWENTY World Championships and Olympic Games.
@lorincztomi12
@lorinczviktor

4. Turkey’s ?? GR #Trnava2018 World C’Ship Lineup.
‪55kg - C. LIMAN ‬
‪60kg - ? K. KAMAL‬
‪63kg - A. TOPRAK ‬
‪67kg - I. GUN‬
‪72kg - E. ERGEN ‬
‪77kg - A. ERDURAN‬
‪82kg - M. SARICICEK‬
‪87kg - B. TAN‬
‪97kg - B. KAYISDAG ‬
‪130kg - F. BOZKURT‬

5. ‪Kyrgyzstan’s ?? Junior GR World C’ship Team. #Trnava2018‬. @akjol_mahmudov .
55kg - N. KERIMBERDI UULU‬
‪60kg - D. KADYROV‬
‪63kg - E. BAKIROV‬
‪67kg - K. IBRAGIMOV‬
‪72kg - I. BILIMOV‬
‪77kg - ? - A. MAKHMUDOV ‪82kg - I. BILIMOV‬
‪87kg - A. TALANTBEK UULU‬

#WrestleZagreb

Duke stuns Diakomihalis to make U.S. team for World Championships

Sunday, June 15, 2025 - 09:00 By United World Wrestling Press

NEWARK, United States (June 14) -- United States determined its Freestyle team in nine weight classes for the World Championships after the Final X which was held Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.

One spot -- 61kg -- will be determined on a later date as Vitali ARUJAU (USA) was allowed a delay in his playoff against Jaxen FORREST (USA) due to an injury.

Despite the 61kg playoff not scheduled for Saturday, there was no lack of surprises at the Final X, a tournament designated to select the final 10 wrestlers for the U.S. team.

The biggest surprised came at 70kg as high school sensation Peter DUKE defeated former world silver medalist John DIAKOMIHALIS in a best-of-three series and make his first senior World Championships team.

The win for Duke came in dramatic fashion as he pinned Diakomihalis the third and final bout of the series. Diakomihalis opened with a big 10-0 technical superiority win over Duke in the first bout. However, Duke bounced back with a big 17-10 win in the second bout. Diakomihalis led 9-2 but Duke hit a pair of four-point moves, followed by turns in par terre to win and force the third bout.

In the third bout, Diakomihalis and Duke were in a scramble and the former tried a split-leg defense but was pushed on his back on the mat and Duke kept him there for the fall.

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"That first match, [I] didn't wrestle my best," Duke said. "It's a feel match. Didn't doubt myself once."

Duke later revealed that he saw an interview in which Diakomihalis said he would "try to mangle" Duke.

"I took that personal," Duke said. "I'm not going to let that slide. He's a good mentor to me, but I work my butt too hard to be mangled."

Apart from Diakomihalis, Kyle DAKE was fell short in his bid to make the team at 86kg, a big jump from 74kg, in which he won bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

Dake fell to Zahid VALENCIA who won two straight matches to make the team. After winning his first bout 5-3, Valencia scored a takedown and leg-lace turn for a 4-0 lead in the first period, and went on to win 4-1. Valencia is a bronze medalist from 2023 World Championships at 92kg.

Paris Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE made his first-ever World Championships team two-match sweep over world U20 champion Luke LILLEDAHL at 57kg. Lee won the second match 6-0, scoring all of his points in the first period with a takedown, a leg lace and an exposure from the feet. Lee won the first match 7-2, with a key takedown and two gut wrenches in the first period.

At 74kg, age David CARR defeated Mitchell MESSENBRINK in two straight matches. Carr won the first bout 4-3, scoring two takedowns in the second period. He completed the series win with another comeback. Trailing 4-2 in the second period, Carr scored a clutch takedown to tie the match at 4-4 to win by criteria.

Former world U23 champion Wyatt HENDRICKSON the 125kg series in two straight matches over Trent HILLGER. After a 10-0 technical superiority win in the fist bout, Hendrickson was tested in the second but he eventually won 20-14 to wrap up the series over Hillger. Hendrickson made global headlines in March when he won an NCAA title beating 2020 Olympic champion Gable STEVESON in the final.

Trent HIDLAY needed just two bouts at 92kg to defeat Joshua BARR and earn a spot on the team. Hidlay won the first bout 6-1 but the second win proved much difficult to come. All five points were stepout points with Hidlay winning 3-2.

At 65kg, Real WOODS denied Joseph MCKENNA a spot on the world team after posting two straight wins. Both matches had a key four-point move by Woods that made the difference. In the second match, Woods opened the match with a four-pointer, which held up when the match ended 4-4, giving Woods criteria. McKenna challenged, seeking a point on a singlet pull, which was denied, making in 5-4.

Levi HAINES swept his 79kg series in two straight over Evan WICK. In the second match, Haines scored a 6-1 win, with a key takedown and an exposure in the second period for the margin of victory. In the first match, Haines scored an impressive 10-0 first-period technical fall.

Past world and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER made his 11th straight world/Olympic team for the U.S. after he defeated Hayden ZILLMER. In the deciding second match, Snyder broke a 2-2 tie with two takedowns and a turn in the second period for an 8-2 win.

The 61kg playoff to decide the winner between Arujau and Forrest will be held Monday, July 14 at the Fargodome in Fargo.

RESULTS (Best of three)

57kg
Spencer LEE df. Luke LILLEDAHL, 2-0

Bout 1: Lee df. Lilledahl, 7-2
Bout 2: Lee df. Lilledahl, 6-0

65kg
Real WOODS df. Joseph MCKENNA, 2-0

Bout 1: Woods df. McKenna, 7-3
Bout 2: Woods df. McKenna, 5-4

70kg
Peter DUKE df. John DIAKOMIHALIS, 2-1

Bout 1: Diakomihalis df. Duke, 10-0
Bout 2: Duke df. Diakomihalis, 17-10
Bout 3: Duke df. Diakomihalis, via fall

74kg
David CARR df. Mitchell MESENBRINK, 2-0

Bout 1: Carr df. Mesenbrink, 4-3
Bout 2: Carr df. Mesenbrink, 4-4

79kg
Levi HAINES df. Evan WICK, 2-0

Bout 1: Haines df. Wick, 10-0
Bout 2: Haines df. Wick, 6-1

86kg
Zahid VALENCIA df. Kyle DAKE, 2-0

Bout 1: Valencia df. Dake, 5-3
Bout 2: Valencia df. Dake, 4-1

92kg
Trent HIDLAY df. Joshua BARR, 2-0

Bout 1: Hidlay df. Barr, 6-1
Bout 2: Hidlay df. Barr, 3-2

97kg
Kyle SNYDER df. Hayden ZILLMER, 2-0

Bout 1: Snyder df. Zillmer, 8-0
Bout 2: Snyder df. Zillmer, 8-2

125kg
Wyatt HENDRICKSON df. Trent HILLGER, 2-0

Bout 1: Hendrickson df. Hillger, 10-0
Bout 2: Hendrickson df. Hillger, 20-14

Weekly FIVE! September 4, 2018

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Duke stuns Diakomihalis to make U.S. team for World Championships